27 May 2003

More prisoners die from mystery illness in Papua New Guinea

4:09 pm on 27 May 2003

Two more prisoners have died at the Buimo jail in Papua New Guinea, which has been hit by a mystery illness over the past month.

The latest fatalities take the death toll to four.

The Post Courier reports the jail commander Samson Jaro saying the most recent deaths occurred at Angau Memorial Hospital where the prisoners had been admitted.

A remandee from the Morobe province died on May the 14th, suffering from paralysis of the limbs and a swollen abdomen.

Four days later, another prisoner was rushed to hospital badly dehydrated from vomiting who then died at the weekend.

Mr Jaro says several senior Correctional Institute Service officers have visited the jail to investigate.

Meanwhile the Morobe governor, Luther Wenge, says he will file a case arguing breaches of human rights at the jail this week.

Mr Wenge wants it closed and prisoners transferred to other jails to allow for major renovations.